Young Scottish woman says she was diagnosed with cancer after symptoms were first mistaken for long covid

Scottish girl who suffered excruciating pain for months was diagnosed with stage four Cancer after his symptoms have been confused for a long time Covid.

Nichola Petermann was only 26 when she learned she had Hodgkin lymphoma and needed immediate treatment, which forced her to quit her dream job for months after starting.

Doctors believed her symptoms, which included fever, abdominal pain and night sweats, were the result of her contraction of the coronavirus in January.

But as her illness gradually worsened, she found herself taking pain relievers six times a day in order to continue her daily life.

With no answers, Nichola, of Glasgow, repeatedly sought medical attention, but the likelihood of it being long Covid masked the advanced stage of her cancer.

It wasn’t until after a visit to her grandmother that Nichola realized how sick she was.

Charity bosses say they fear Nichola’s cancer experience may recur across the UK as signs of cancer can be very similar to the long-term effects of the coronavirus.

When she was finally diagnosed with stage 4b ​​cancer, her condition was so advanced that she was advised to start chemotherapy the next day, forcing her to quit the television job of her dreams, which she had started in December.

Nichola told the Mirror: “I thought it was long Covid for a long time, I had no idea how bad it was.

“Because I was working and it was more difficult to see generalists, it was really difficult.

“I treated it myself with pain relief, but eventually I couldn’t take it anymore.

“I was taking paracetamol six times a day, I don’t think they believed me when I said how bad it was.”

It wasn’t until she visited her grandmother, who herself struggles with stomach cancer, that she realized how sick she was.

“I noticed I was sleeping more and eating less than she did,” she said. “It was then that I knew for sure that something was wrong.”

When the pain in Nichola’s abdomen and lower back became too much to bear, she contacted NHS 24, who referred her to an immediate assessment unit because staff were concerned about the amount of paracetamol she was taking.

However, when ultrasounds and x-rays revealed no gynecological issues, Nichola was on the verge of going out before a final round of tests finally revealed how ill she was.

“I was told that maybe I would go home, although I was clearly in a lot of pain,” she said. “I was afraid I would have to leave.

It wasn’t until an ultrasound revealed ovarian cysts and trapped fluid that doctors were finally able to diagnose her with life-saving cancer.

At this point, her lymph nodes were swollen – another symptom she attributed to the long Covid – and doctors had to break the news that Nichola had Hodgkin lymphoma.

“I hadn’t heard of it, I didn’t know what it meant,” she said.

“It’s a very aggressive cancer, but that means it may be easier to treat. As soon as it was diagnosed they realized how serious it was, I started chemotherapy the next day. “

The urgency to start chemotherapy was such that Nichola was told she did not have time to undergo fertility preservation.

She spent 10 weeks in hospital with treatment preventing her from walking and having to be tube-fed due to muscositis.

Nichola lost three stones while at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and had to be assisted by nurses to get around.

She praised the dedicated doctors who supported her during her treatment.

“Although they were also clearly short-staffed, I never felt like it impacted my care,” she said.

Nichola was finally released in August and a month later received the good news that her cancer was in remission.

Still suffering from chronic fatigue and having difficulty walking long distances, she hopes to be able to return to work early in the year.

“I’m doing a lot better but I’m still quite slow, I still struggle a lot with a lot of pain. I’m getting there, I’m still a lot tired, but I can’t wait to get there back to work, I hope to start looking for something after Christmas. “

In the meantime, Nichola is determined to do something to support Blood Cancer UK, a charity she says has been of great help during her illness.

During the month of November, she walked daily in a 26.2 mile challenge, and her fundraising page has already raised over £ 2,500.

Kate Keightley, Head of Service Support and Development, said: “At the height of the pandemic we have seen far fewer people diagnosed with blood cancer, and one of the reasons for this could be that some of the Symptoms of blood cancer are easily confused with Covid.

“Symptoms such as fatigue, fever and night sweats can sometimes be ignored or minimized and the result can be devastating.

“More than half of UK adults cannot name any symptoms of blood cancer, despite it being the third deadliest cancer in the UK. If you have unexplainable and persistent symptoms, you must urgently make an appointment with your doctor.

“While it’s unlikely to be anything serious, it is so important to get checked out. “

A spokesperson for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: We are sorry to hear of this woman’s concerns and will look into her case.

“We urge anyone who thinks they have symptoms that may require investigation to contact their GP. Our partner GP practices are open and continue to see patients, and they should be the first point of contact for people with issues. health.”

To sponsor Nichola and support Blood Cancer UK, Click here.